The State Department has approved a possible $680 million Foreign Military Sale to Mexico for UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support.
The principal contractors will be Sikorsky [UTX] and General Electric Aircraft Company (GEAC). There are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on April 17.
Mexico has requested a possible sale of 18 UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters in standard U.S. government configuration with designated unique equipment and Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), 40 T700-GE-701D Engines–36 installed and 4 spares–42 Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigation Systems–36 installed and 6 spares–and 36 M134 7.62mm Machine Guns, five Aviation Mission Planning Systems, 18 AN/AVS-9 Night Vision Goggles, and one Aviation Ground Power Unit.
The potential sale also would include communication security equipment including AN/ARC-210 RT-8100 series radios, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems, aircraft warranty, air worthiness support, facility construction, spare and repair parts, support equipment, and publications and technical documentation. Additionally, personnel training and training equipment, site surveys, and tool and test equipment would be included in the sale.
There would also be U.S. government and contractor technical and logistics support services, and other related element of program, technical and logistics support.
The proposed sale would contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner, DSCA said in an April 21 statement. Mexico has been a strong partner in combating organized crime and drug trafficking organizations.
The sale of these UH-60M helicopters to Mexico would significantly increase and strengthen its capability to provide in-country airlift support for its forces engaged in counter-drug operations, the statement said.
Mexico intends to use these defense articles and services to modernize its armed forces and expand its existing army architecture in its efforts to combat drug trafficking organizations.
Implementing the sale might require the assignment of an additional three U.S. government and five contractor representatives in country full-time to support the delivery and training for approximately two years.